Are brakeless BMX bikes better than bikes with Gyro brakes?
Although I am no professional, I have spent roughly 10 years riding and assembling BMX bikes and am quite familiar with the sport and community. Something that has been on the forefront of my mind as of late is the topic of brakeless bikes and gyro systems - I’ve wondered about this ever since BMX hit a surge of popularity back in 2010. Throughout my time as an enthusiast, I’ve seen people riding with single rear-brake cables, gyro brake systems, and no brakes at all! BMX riders are constantly doing stunts and tricks that require their handlebars to turn and their bike frames to twist; subsequently leading to their brake cables getting twisted up and in the way. To combat or avoid this, BMX riders either remove the brake system entirely or install a Gyro (Detangler) system – a piece that allows the handlebars to turn a complete 360-degree rotation without the brake cables getting tangled up around the bike. Some may say that riding without brakes is dangerous and you’d be foolish to skip out on the gyro system, however I think it’s up to the personal preference of the individual and the style of their riding. If you’re a beginner, I would advise you not to remove your brakes, but to each their own.
Why go brakeless?
Throughout the years, riding BMX bikes without breaks has become a bit of a trend. The initial reason that BMX riders would go brakeless was to be more free to do tricks – they could throw as many bar spin or tail whip tricks as they pleased without having a brake cable limit the amount of times they are able to do so. Additionally, having no brakes on your bike means you have less to maintain and you’ll spend less time making repairs or replacing parts. It’s typical of a BMX rider to go brakeless if they want to gain better control over their bikes which also aids in the individual’s ability to perform tricks.
Professional BMX rider Boyd Hilder even said in a Redbull Bike Check video, “I prefer riding no brakes because the lever’s in my way when I pass the bars around and I don’t need to slow down - I’m trying to keep my speed.” Perhaps this is something most riders take heavily into consideration when thinking of their brake set ups - I thought about it alot as a rider and have always thought: the less maintenance, the better so I personally began to ride brakeless. Some people, like Corey Bohan in the Redbull Bike Check Video, refer to brakeless bikes as a “new school” style which truthfully just make the bike more aesthetically pleasing.
Throughout my time riding BMX bikes, I have come to find that unwinding your handlebars and frame after doing several tricks does tend to become a hassle, and the brake free look really does look a lot less messy – I’ve also never had to waste any time fixing or changing my brakes, so I can attest to that statement as well. Although I haven’t been able to find any statistical data on gyros vs brakeless setups, I’d say that it appears to be a 50/50 split between the community - this is a question that has been posed before on another thread in the Vital BMX Community and the reactions on this post were mixed; a lot of people in favor of brakeless and a lot of people in favor of gyros.
Why ride with a gyro?
Some BMX riders will tell you that riding with brakes installed on your bike holds you back from doing and learning tricks – but the gyro/detangler system is the direct answer to this problem. The gyro sits right underneath the stem and handlebars and feeds the brake cable down the forks leading to the rear brake pads.
Running a gyro system on your bike will allow you to twist the handlebars and frame in any direction any amount of times without getting tangled up. With a gyro system installed on your bike, you’ll be able to get as daring as you’d like while still being able to control your speed and stop on a dime. A gyro system could even help someone learn a trick that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do on a bike without brakes - like a tire stall! I rode a Haro about 5 years back that had a gyro system on it and although it kind of looked clunky, I was able to learn some beginner tricks on it and utilize the brakes to be sure I didn’t overdo it. Although I am brakeless now, I can thank gyro brakes for helping me make the transition from a beginner to an intermediate rider.
What are the drawbacks of riding brakeless?
Both of these styles of riding come with their own sets of drawbacks. I’ll start off with bikes with no brakes at all – they have no brakes! If you are a new rider or don’t feel comfortable jamming your foot in your tire or controlling your momentum to slow down, there’s a good chance that you could fall and hurt yourself. Some pro riders, like Sean Ricany or Garret Reynolds, ride brakeless BMX bikes and jam the soles of their shoes into their back tire in order to slow down. Although they are pro’s and do it with ease, I’m sure they are constantly ruining the bottoms of their shoes and have to make frequent purchases for new ones – it’s a good thing that these guys ride with sponsorships.
Something else one might want to take note of is the legality behind riding with no brakes. All bikes are sold with a brake set and with the intentions that you will keep them on; it’s entirely possible you could receive some sort of ticket form law enforcement (depending on where you live) if you are seen riding on public roads without some sort of brake system installed. In Pennsylvania, the Bicycle Safety Code states, “Your bike must be equipped with brakes that will stop the bike 15 feet from an initial speed of 15 mph on dry, level pavement.” Just some food for thought, but if you take your brakes off, it’s probably a better idea to keep your bike off-road and in the skatepark.
What are the drawbacks of gyro systems?
Although gyro systems revolutionized the way BMX riders rode their bikes, they also come with their own drawbacks as well. Some BMX riders might tell you that the gyro adds unnecessary weight to your bike, but they only weigh approximately 12 ounces, so it doesn’t make too much of a difference. The biggest issue with gyro systems is the maintenance that goes into keeping them up and running (i.e lubrication, replacing cables, replacement lock nuts). A gyro brake set involves two brake cables which both have the chance of fraying and falling apart; not to mention that you’ll have to clean and lubricate them often because they do become dirty and dusty after some use.
Although gyros are a modified brake system, the brake pads are still attached to your wheel so by using them more frequently, you also have the chance to strip the paint off your rims which compromises the aesthetics of the bike you are riding. One could combat this issue, however, by frequently cleaning the brake pads by removing debris or replacing the pads with a more reputable brand like eclat, odyssey, or fly bmx. Additionally, bikes with gyro brakes aren’t immune to accidents - as a lot of you may recall, pro rider Scotty Cranmer took a huge spill back in 2017 that left him with partial paralysis. Cramner was riding with gyro brakes on his bike, but was still severely injured. This goes to show that no matter what you’re doing on a bike, you’ll never be 100% invincible.
What’s the better option?
Truth be told, both brakeless BMX bikes and BMX bikes with gyro detanglers have their advantages and disadvantages. I’ve always been a fan of the brakeless set up because of how clean it looks and the lack of maintenance. However, I would recommend leaning toward the side of caution and get a gyro brake if you are a beginner or don’t feel comfortable without them. No matter which option you go with, you’ll still be able to do tricks without much inconvenience! I’ve said my part, but I would be interested in hearing from the Vital BMX community to find out which style is preferred amongst riders in this day and age.
Although I am no professional, I have spent roughly 10 years riding and assembling BMX bikes and am quite familiar with the sport and community. Something that has been on the forefront of my mind as of late is the topic of brakeless bikes and gyro systems - I’ve wondered about this ever since BMX hit a surge of popularity back in 2010. Throughout my time as an enthusiast, I’ve seen people riding with single rear-brake cables, gyro brake systems, and no brakes at all! BMX riders are constantly doing stunts and tricks that require their handlebars to turn and their bike frames to twist; subsequently leading to their brake cables getting twisted up and in the way. To combat or avoid this, BMX riders either remove the brake system entirely or install a Gyro (Detangler) system – a piece that allows the handlebars to turn a complete 360-degree rotation without the brake cables getting tangled up around the bike. Some may say that riding without brakes is dangerous and you’d be foolish to skip out on the gyro system, however I think it’s up to the personal preference of the individual and the style of their riding. If you’re a beginner, I would advise you not to remove your brakes, but to each their own.
Why go brakeless?
Throughout the years, riding BMX bikes without breaks has become a bit of a trend. The initial reason that BMX riders would go brakeless was to be more free to do tricks – they could throw as many bar spin or tail whip tricks as they pleased without having a brake cable limit the amount of times they are able to do so. Additionally, having no brakes on your bike means you have less to maintain and you’ll spend less time making repairs or replacing parts. It’s typical of a BMX rider to go brakeless if they want to gain better control over their bikes which also aids in the individual’s ability to perform tricks.
Professional BMX rider Boyd Hilder even said in a Redbull Bike Check video, “I prefer riding no brakes because the lever’s in my way when I pass the bars around and I don’t need to slow down - I’m trying to keep my speed.” Perhaps this is something most riders take heavily into consideration when thinking of their brake set ups - I thought about it alot as a rider and have always thought: the less maintenance, the better so I personally began to ride brakeless. Some people, like Corey Bohan in the Redbull Bike Check Video, refer to brakeless bikes as a “new school” style which truthfully just make the bike more aesthetically pleasing.
Throughout my time riding BMX bikes, I have come to find that unwinding your handlebars and frame after doing several tricks does tend to become a hassle, and the brake free look really does look a lot less messy – I’ve also never had to waste any time fixing or changing my brakes, so I can attest to that statement as well. Although I haven’t been able to find any statistical data on gyros vs brakeless setups, I’d say that it appears to be a 50/50 split between the community - this is a question that has been posed before on another thread in the Vital BMX Community and the reactions on this post were mixed; a lot of people in favor of brakeless and a lot of people in favor of gyros.
Why ride with a gyro?
Some BMX riders will tell you that riding with brakes installed on your bike holds you back from doing and learning tricks – but the gyro/detangler system is the direct answer to this problem. The gyro sits right underneath the stem and handlebars and feeds the brake cable down the forks leading to the rear brake pads.
Running a gyro system on your bike will allow you to twist the handlebars and frame in any direction any amount of times without getting tangled up. With a gyro system installed on your bike, you’ll be able to get as daring as you’d like while still being able to control your speed and stop on a dime. A gyro system could even help someone learn a trick that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do on a bike without brakes - like a tire stall! I rode a Haro about 5 years back that had a gyro system on it and although it kind of looked clunky, I was able to learn some beginner tricks on it and utilize the brakes to be sure I didn’t overdo it. Although I am brakeless now, I can thank gyro brakes for helping me make the transition from a beginner to an intermediate rider.
What are the drawbacks of riding brakeless?
Both of these styles of riding come with their own sets of drawbacks. I’ll start off with bikes with no brakes at all – they have no brakes! If you are a new rider or don’t feel comfortable jamming your foot in your tire or controlling your momentum to slow down, there’s a good chance that you could fall and hurt yourself. Some pro riders, like Sean Ricany or Garret Reynolds, ride brakeless BMX bikes and jam the soles of their shoes into their back tire in order to slow down. Although they are pro’s and do it with ease, I’m sure they are constantly ruining the bottoms of their shoes and have to make frequent purchases for new ones – it’s a good thing that these guys ride with sponsorships.
Something else one might want to take note of is the legality behind riding with no brakes. All bikes are sold with a brake set and with the intentions that you will keep them on; it’s entirely possible you could receive some sort of ticket form law enforcement (depending on where you live) if you are seen riding on public roads without some sort of brake system installed. In Pennsylvania, the Bicycle Safety Code states, “Your bike must be equipped with brakes that will stop the bike 15 feet from an initial speed of 15 mph on dry, level pavement.” Just some food for thought, but if you take your brakes off, it’s probably a better idea to keep your bike off-road and in the skatepark.
What are the drawbacks of gyro systems?
Although gyro systems revolutionized the way BMX riders rode their bikes, they also come with their own drawbacks as well. Some BMX riders might tell you that the gyro adds unnecessary weight to your bike, but they only weigh approximately 12 ounces, so it doesn’t make too much of a difference. The biggest issue with gyro systems is the maintenance that goes into keeping them up and running (i.e lubrication, replacing cables, replacement lock nuts). A gyro brake set involves two brake cables which both have the chance of fraying and falling apart; not to mention that you’ll have to clean and lubricate them often because they do become dirty and dusty after some use.
Although gyros are a modified brake system, the brake pads are still attached to your wheel so by using them more frequently, you also have the chance to strip the paint off your rims which compromises the aesthetics of the bike you are riding. One could combat this issue, however, by frequently cleaning the brake pads by removing debris or replacing the pads with a more reputable brand like eclat, odyssey, or fly bmx. Additionally, bikes with gyro brakes aren’t immune to accidents - as a lot of you may recall, pro rider Scotty Cranmer took a huge spill back in 2017 that left him with partial paralysis. Cramner was riding with gyro brakes on his bike, but was still severely injured. This goes to show that no matter what you’re doing on a bike, you’ll never be 100% invincible.
What’s the better option?
Truth be told, both brakeless BMX bikes and BMX bikes with gyro detanglers have their advantages and disadvantages. I’ve always been a fan of the brakeless set up because of how clean it looks and the lack of maintenance. However, I would recommend leaning toward the side of caution and get a gyro brake if you are a beginner or don’t feel comfortable without them. No matter which option you go with, you’ll still be able to do tricks without much inconvenience! I’ve said my part, but I would be interested in hearing from the Vital BMX community to find out which style is preferred amongst riders in this day and age.
|
Quote
